Hi all, Well I made it back safely to the states. I even hit the stand by jackpot and got a First Class seat from Rome to Philly. SWEET! I won't tell you what I paid for it because you'd all hate me! 🙂 So for those who've been "traveling" with me these last 6 months or so know that I tend to get a little philosophical (a little??) in my last email. I always have mixed emotions because it's sad to finish such a great trip but I'm happy to see my family and friends. So the enclosed picture was from Florence and when I first saw it, it really made me laugh to see a Merry Go Round right next to this ancient arch. But then as I stayed for awhile and watched the people coming and going it made me think about life. (OK, work with me here people!) For those that know me well, I've mentioned how fortunate I am to have some time to "Step Off" the Merry Go Round of life for a little while. Because we'd all agree that life sometimes can feel like a Merry Go Round where we keep going round and round each and every week with the everyday aspects of life like work, family, school, finances, stress, etc., etc. And whenever we can, we should all try to "Step Off" for a little bit, even if just for a few hours, or a day or if your real lucky maybe a week or two. But we all need a break from the Merry Go Round of life. And I think what the picture shows is that by just stepping off that Merry Go Round, there's a whole new and different magical world awaiting you thru the arch or portal right next to it. So don't be afraid to "Step Off" and enjoy the things other than the basic life routines that we all have to deal with. Of course for me, that's travel, but for you it could just be spending time with family, exploring a new part of your town or just quiet time with a good book that will "take you away". Whatever you choose, I hope you'll all get a chance to "Step Off" and walk thru the arch to your own personal fun! Well I hope you all enjoyed our trip thru Italy. If anyone needs a personal guide, I'd be glad to help since I ain't going up against that Trevi Fountain thing and thus I HAVE to go back! :-). So until we meet again, safe travels to all of you!
The Wandering Italian 